CE 344
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
Course Objectives
 To develop a basic understanding of key
material properties, requirements, and related
behavior characteristics of typical construction
materials.
Course Content
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Types
Production methods
Uses in construction
Properties and related tests of the following
materials of construction:
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Building Stones
Metals
Clay Products
Gypsum
Lime
• Cements
• Mineral Aggregates
• Concrete
Course Content

These materials are used in all civil engineering
structures such as;
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buildings
bridges
highways
railways
tunnels
dams
harbor structures
towers
etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING MATERIALS
1.
According to their phases
2.
According to their internal structure &
chemical composition
Phase Classification
1. Gases : Air, oxygen, CO2
2. Liquids : Water, chemical admixtures
3. Semi-solids : Fresh pastes, mortars, asphalt
4. Solids : Metals, hardened concrete
Internal Structure & Chemical
Composition Classification
1. Metals :
(formed by metallic bonds)
A. Ferrous (iron, cast iron, steel)
B. Non-ferrous (aluminum, copper, zinc, lead)
2. Polymers :
(long chains having molecules of C, H, O,
N which are formed by covalent bonding. The chains are
bound to each other either by covalent bonds or Van der
Waals forces.)
A. Natural (rubber, asphalt, resins, wood)
B. Artificial (plastics)
Internal Structure & Chemical
Composition Classification
3. Ceramics :
(mainly aluminosilicates formed by mixed
bonding, covalent and ionic)
A. Structural clay products (bricks, tiles, pipes)
B. Porcelains
4. Composite Materials :
A. Natural (agglomerates)
B. Artificial (Portland cement, concrete)
Internal Structure & Chemical
Composition Classification
5. Reinforced Composite Materials :
(reinforced
concrete, reinforced plastics)
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One of the most important tasks of an
engineer is to select the most suitable
material for a given civil engineering
structure.
Factors Determining the Choice
of Proper Material for a Structure
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Strength, rigidity & durability Requirements
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Permanent loading → Creep Strength
Repeated loading → Fatique Strength
Impact loading → Toughness & Resilience
Surface loading → Hardness & Resistance to abrasion
Environmental Requirements
– Temperature change → coefficient of thermal expansion
– Moisture movement → permeability
– Chemical effects → chemical composition
Factors Determining the Choice
of Proper Material for a Structure
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Economy. Choose the cheaper & available
materials considering
– Initial cost
– Useful life
– Frequency of maintenance
– Cost of maintenance
– Salvage value
etc.
Example: Comparison of concrete
pavement vs. asphalt pavement for
economy.
Concrete
Asphalt
Initial Cost
–
+
Useful Life
+
–
Frequency of Repair
+
–
Cost of Repair
–
+
Salvage Value
+
+
General Properties of Civil
Engineering Materials
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Physical **
Mechanical **
Chemical
Other
– Thermal, Acoustical, Optical, Electrical
** Most CE Applications focus on physical
& mechanical properties
Physical Properties
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Properties of physical structure
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density
specific gravity
porosity
permeability
– surface energy
– texture (micro, macro)
– other (color, thermal
expansion, shape)
Mechanical Properties
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Resistance to applied loads (stress)
initially & over time
– stiffness
– strength
– fracture / yielding
(brittle / ductile)
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tension
compression
flexure (bending)
torsion
direct shear
multiaxial
Chemical Properties
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Chemical composition, potential
reaction with environment
– oxide content
– carbonate content
– acidity, alkalinity
– resistance to corrosion
Determining the Properties
of Civil Engineering Materials
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Properties of materials are determined by
• Laboratory testing
• Field testing
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To avoid inconsistencies in test results
STANDARDS are devised which describe
the test apparatus and the procedure.
Items that are usually
standardized in a test are:
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Obtaining test specimens and number of specimens
Size and shape of the specimen
Preparation of specimens for testing
Temperature & moisture during preparation &
testing
Type of machinery
Rate of loading
Interpretation of test results
Writing a report
Standardization Institutes
Turkey - Turkish Standards Institute (TSE)
 England - British Standards Institute (BSI)
 Germany - Deutsche Institute Norm (DIN)
 U.S. - American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM)
 Europe - European Committee for
Standardization (CEN)
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CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
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Although there are several different
materials which have adhesive properties,
three types are of particular interest to civil
engineers.
Glues : materials of gelatinous nature
derived from vegetable or animal sources.
Bituminous Materials : complex hydrocarbon
Various Compounds of Calcium : gypsum,
lime, cements
CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
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Cementitious materials are substances
which, upon certain chemical reactions
attain binding properties
Non-hydraulic cements (gypsum and lime)
Hydraulic cements (portland cement)
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Hydraulicity is that property of gaining
binding value when mixed with water and
remaining stable when exposed to water.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF
CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
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Fineness : Particle size.
Normal Consistency : A standard amount of water
which gives a certain fluidity to the paste.
Time of Setting : Beginning of complete loss of
plasticity.
Sand Carrying Capacity : Amount of sand that can
be added without harming plasticity
Hardening : Formation of solid phase; complete
loss of plasticity.
Yield : Volume of final product obtained in
comparison with volumes of constituent materials.